YEREVAN, January 9. / ARKA /. Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan instructed today the government to reconsider a proposal of lawmakers from his Republican Party of Armenia on partial removal of a ban on advertising strong alcoholic drinks in the media, although health minister Derenik Dumanyan said the government and experts were against such a move.

The current law bans advertising of strong alcoholic drinks in media expect for brandy. The minister stressed that the proposed change contains significant risks to the public health.

The lawmakers from the governing party propose to shift to partial ban when strong alcoholic drinks could be advertised at specific time frames thereby providing additional financial resources for broadcasters.

"I propose that the proposed change be discussed once again with the lawmakers ‘because it is a bad precedent when party fellows initiate a legislation change while the government opposes it. I suggest that a mutually acceptable solution be found,” the prime minister said. -0-